Klein Bonaire Water Taxi: Prices, Times and Car Tips
Klein Bonaire sits less than a kilometer off the coast of Kralendijk, and you cannot drive there. The small uninhabited island is reachable only by boat, and the Klein Bonaire water taxi is the way almost every visitor gets across. That changes how you plan a day on Bonaire. Your rental car stays parked in Kralendijk, the boat takes you to No Name Beach, and the rest of the day belongs to the coast road again. This guide covers where the water taxi leaves, what it costs, how the Nature Fee works, what to pack for an island without facilities, and how to combine the boat with a car so neither one is wasted.
Klein Bonaire water taxi: departure points, crossing time and fare
Two operators run the standard water taxi service to No Name Beach, the only place on Klein Bonaire where regular visitors land. According to the Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Epic Water Taxi leaves from Nautico Marina in Kralendijk and the crossing takes roughly 30 minutes. Caribe Watersport leaves from Karel's Beach Bar on the Kralendijk waterfront with several departures a day and a crossing of about 15 minutes. Both charge US$25 per person for a round trip. Operators change schedules and prices, so confirm both at the departure point before you pay.
Which departure point is closer to your car
Both boarding spots sit in or just beside the center of Kralendijk, which makes the car part simple. Karel's Beach Bar is on the boulevard, a few minutes' walk from the main parking along the seafront. Nautico Marina is also on the waterfront, a short drive or a longer walk from the center. If you are staying north of town near the diving resorts, you can park at the marina and walk straight to the boat. If you are coming from Flamingo Airport, the drive into Kralendijk takes only a few minutes, so you can pick up your car and be on the first boat the same morning.
Do you need to book the Klein Bonaire water taxi
Outside the busy season you can usually turn up and board, and in the summer months the boats are often half empty. From December to April, and especially on weekends, the first morning boats fill faster, so reserve a day ahead with your operator. Groups and anyone who wants rented beach chairs should arrange this in advance, because the number of chairs is limited. Chairs and snorkel sets are extras, typically around US$5 each at the beach.
There is no jetty on the island. You step off the boat into shallow water and wade to the sand, so wear sandals you do not mind getting wet and keep your phone and wallet in a waterproof bag.
Getting to the boat: parking, roads and the right rental car
You do not need an off-road vehicle for a Klein Bonaire day. The road from the airport into Kralendijk is paved, and so is the boulevard where the boats leave. Traffic drives on the right, the limit in town is typically 40 km/h and outside town 60 km/h, and the roundabouts around Kralendijk are small and easy. Goats, donkeys and iguanas cross the road with no warning, and there is almost no street lighting outside the center, so plan your drive back before dark. For the full rules read our guide to car rental in Bonaire.
Park in a public spot near your departure point and keep nothing visible on the seats. Leaving your car behind for four to six hours is normal here. If you are planning to snorkel, change into your swimwear at the hotel, because the island has no changing rooms.
What a rental car costs for a Klein Bonaire day
For this trip an economy or compact car is enough. A pickup or an SUV only makes sense if you add Washington Slagbaai or a shore diving site with a steep entry to the same week. In TropicDrive's live search for 10 to 17 March 2027 with pickup at Flamingo Airport, daily prices included taxes and insurance and started at the levels below. Prices are from-prices and change by date and availability, so always search your own dates.
| Category | Example models | From per day |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Suzuki Spresso (manual) | US$56 |
| Economy | Suzuki Spresso (automatic), Suzuki Swift | US$63 to US$73 |
| Compact | Chevrolet Onix, Toyota Yaris | US$72 to US$80 |
| Compact SUV | GAC Emzoom, MG Crossover, Chevrolet Trax | US$89 to US$95 |
| Pickup | JAC T6, Ram L200, Chevrolet Montana | US$79 to US$101 |
You rent the car for the week, not for the boat, so the Klein Bonaire share of that cost is small. For ways to bring the total down, see our tips for cheap car rental in Bonaire.
Snorkeling at No Name Beach: reef, turtles and the Nature Fee
No Name Beach is a strip of white sand on the north coast of Klein Bonaire with a gently sloping bottom, so swimmers of every level can get in without trouble. The reef starts about 50 meters from the shore. You are over coral within a few kicks, and snorkelers regularly see parrotfish and angelfish. Mornings give the clearest water. Some boats offer a drift snorkel where the crew drops you beyond the reef and picks you up near the beach after about 45 minutes, which shows you far more reef than you can cover from the sand. Ask your operator whether it is on offer that day.
The STINAPA Nature Fee
Klein Bonaire is part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. Anyone who snorkels, goes scuba diving or does other water activities there pays the STINAPA Nature Fee. The Tourism Corporation Bonaire lists the fee at US$40 per person, valid for a year, and it also covers Washington Slagbaai National Park. You can pay online before you travel. Check the current amount and exemptions at STINAPA Bonaire and on the Bonaire nature fee page. If you already paid for a diving or snorkel session earlier in your trip, your fee is still valid and you do not pay again.
Turtles and beach rules
Green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles nest on Klein Bonaire. The nesting season runs roughly from April to February and peaks between May and October. Keep at least three meters away from turtles, stay off marked nests, skip night walks on the beach during the season and never use flash. Camping, fires, pets, touching coral and taking shells or plants are all prohibited. Use reef-safe sunscreen, because regular formulas harm the coral you came to see. There is no medical care on the island, so stay within your swimming ability and tell someone on the boat when you plan to return.
What to pack and how to plan the day with boat and car
Klein Bonaire has no restaurants, no shops, no toilets and almost no shade. The Tourism Corporation Bonaire advises at least one liter of water per person, and in practice two liters is better in the midday heat. Bring food for the whole day and a bag for your trash, because there are no bins. A short packing list for two people:
- Two liters of water each, plus snacks and lunch
- A beach tent or umbrella that holds in the wind, and a mat
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and your own mask, snorkel and fins
- Water shoes for the pebbles at the waterline
Once you are on the island you stay until the next boat, so pack for the whole stay.
A sample day: boat in the morning, car in the afternoon
Collect your car and drive to Kralendijk. Park near your departure point and take a morning boat to No Name Beach. The first departures leave in the early morning, and by 9:45 you can already be in the water while the sun is still low. Snorkel through the morning, eat on the sand, and take a boat back around midday before the hottest hours. Caribe Watersport runs roughly hourly departures through the day, with the last return at 16:45. Always ask at boarding when the last boat leaves, because wind and waves can change the schedule.
Use the afternoon for the car. In our test, free delivery was included with the cars shown, so you can also have the car brought to your hotel and skip the airport queue. Drive south past the salt pans and flamingos, or take the road east to Lac Bay, about 15 minutes from the center, for a shallow lagoon and a late lunch. Washington Slagbaai in the north works better as its own day. Our guide to the best spots on Bonaire you need a rental car for lays out how the island fits together.
If you are a diver, or arrive by cruise ship
Divers often use Klein Bonaire as a rest day. Leave the tanks in the truck, take only mask and snorkel, and save the gear for tomorrow. Your body also benefits from a day without tanks, and the reef at No Name Beach is good enough that many divers end up swimming longer than planned. Which vehicle suits shore diving is covered in car rental in Bonaire for divers. If you arrive on a cruise ship, the pier is in the center of Kralendijk and within walking distance of the departure points, so you may not need a car for the boat itself. Take an early boat and plan to be back on the pier about two hours before the ship leaves.
Weather, wind and days the boat does not run
Bonaire is warm and dry all year with a steady trade wind, and the west coast around Kralendijk is usually sheltered. That is why the water taxi runs every day of the year. The driest and calmest months are roughly December to April, which is also the busiest period. From August to November the sea can be rougher and the crossing a little bumpier. On days when strong wind or high waves stop the boats, a car gives you an immediate plan B such as Lac Bay or the beaches near the airport. For a month by month view, read the best time to visit Bonaire.
What a Klein Bonaire day costs for two people
The numbers add up faster than most visitors expect, so it helps to count them before you leave. This table assumes two people spend half a day at No Name Beach, have not yet paid the Nature Fee this year and already have the rental car for the week.
| Item | Cost (US$) |
|---|---|
| Water taxi round trip, 2 people | 50 |
| STINAPA Nature Fee, 2 people | 80 |
| Two beach chairs | about 10 |
| Snorkel sets, if you rent | 0 to 10 |
| Total without the car | about 140 to 150 |
The fee is a one-time cost for the year, so on a second boat day your total drops by 80 dollars. Bring your own snorkel gear and the day gets cheaper again.
Common mistakes to avoid
Most problems on Klein Bonaire have the same causes, and almost all of them are avoidable with a little planning the evening before. Visitors bring too little water and feel it by noon. They leave Kralendijk late, miss the best light on the reef and then rush the last boat. They forget their Nature Fee confirmation, or they assume that a rental snorkel set fits as well as their own. A few minutes of preparation prevents all of it. Pay the fee online the evening before, fill your bottles at the hotel, set an alarm for the first departure and check the last boat time when you step off.
If you travel with children, ask the crew whether they can board and whether the wet landing suits their age. Younger children also need a shaded spot to rest between swims, so a beach tent is not a luxury on an island with so little shade, and a hat for each child saves the afternoon.
Booking your Bonaire rental car with TropicDrive
TropicDrive compares more than 30 local rental companies on Bonaire in one search, with over 1,000 cars across the platform. You see live availability, and the price shown includes taxes and insurance. You pay a small part online when you book, in our test around 13 percent, and the rest at pickup. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before pickup, and you pay securely with iDEAL, Wero or credit card via Stripe.
Every partner is a local business, screened on company registration, insurance and the condition of its fleet. Your money stays with entrepreneurs on the island and does not go to international chains. Michael R. found the booking process easy and the customer service great. Sarah M. saved over 200 dollars compared with airport counter prices and called the local company fantastic. With a 4.8 star rating from more than 10,000 customers, that pattern holds. Start on the Bonaire car rental page, read why book with us or check the FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my rental car to Klein Bonaire?
No. Klein Bonaire is reachable only by boat or water taxi from Kralendijk, and the island has no roads. Your car stays on Bonaire while you cross.
How much is the Klein Bonaire water taxi?
Both Epic Water Taxi and Caribe Watersport list US$25 per person for a round trip, according to the Tourism Corporation Bonaire. Beach chairs and snorkel sets cost extra, typically around US$5 each. Prices can change, so confirm when you board.
How long is the crossing from Kralendijk?
The crossing takes about 15 minutes from Karel's Beach Bar and about 30 minutes from Nautico Marina, depending on the wind and the boat.
Do I have to pay the Nature Fee to snorkel at Klein Bonaire?
Yes. Klein Bonaire is part of the Bonaire National Marine Park, so snorkelers and scuba divers pay the STINAPA Nature Fee. It is listed at US$40 per person and valid for a year. Pay online and verify the current amount on the STINAPA website.
Are there toilets, food or shade on Klein Bonaire?
No. There are no toilets, restaurants or shops, and shade is very limited. Bring water, food, a beach tent and a bag to carry your trash back to Kralendijk.
What time is the last boat back from Klein Bonaire?
Caribe Watersport lists its last return at 16:45. Schedules can change with wind and waves, so ask the crew for the final departure of the day when you board.
